Why was El Paso airspace shut down? A new United States military laser-based anti-drone system led authorities to halt air traffic in and out of El Paso, Texas, after aviation officials raised serious concerns about risks to commercial aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially announced a 10-day airspace closure on Wednesday but removed the restriction less than eight hours later, a decision reports said stemmed from miscommunication between the Pentagon and aviation regulators. The FAA and the military had planned to discuss the issue at a February 20 meeting, but the army moved ahead without final FAA approval, prompting the agency to halt flights in El Paso, sources said. What happened when El Paso's airspace was shut down?

Is Trump losing patience with Putin? Will sanctions against Russian oil giants hurt Putin? The United Kingdom is sending military equipment and personnel to Belgium after a spate of disruptive drone sightings forced the temporary closures of two major airports. Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton told the BBC network on Sunday that the military had agreed to "deploy our people, our equipment to Belgium to help them" after a request from Belgian authorities. In the past week, both Belgium's main international airport at Brussels and one of Europe's biggest cargo airports at Liege were forced to close temporarily because of drone incursions.

UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium to help it bolster its defences after drone incursions on its airspace, suspected of being carried out by Russia. The new head of the UK military, Sir Richard Knighton, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that his Belgian counterpart asked for assistance earlier this week and that kit and personnel were on the way. Belgium's main airport Zavantem was forced to close temporarily on Thursday night after drones were spotted nearby . They were also spotted in other locations, including a military base. Sir Richard said it was not known if the incursions were by Russia, but added it was plausible they had been ordered by Moscow.

Drones have been seen flying over a Belgian military base near the Dutch border for a third night in a row, according to the country's defence minister said. A helicopter was deployed to the Kleine-Brogel base after drones were spotted - they then flew off towards the Netherlands, national broadcaster VRT reported. Defence Minister Theo Francken said an investigation was under way, calling it a clear mission targeting Kleine Broge. Francken told Belgian radio on Monday that it looked like an espionage operation, but said he would not speculate on who could be behind it. I have some ideas, but I'm going to be cautious, he added.

British soldiers will be granted new powers to shoot down drones threatening military bases. The plans, to be unveiled by Defence Secretary John Healey in a speech on Monday, are intended to allow troops to take faster, more decisive action. Four British airbases used by US forces reported mystery drone sightings last year, while drones have disrupted airspace across Europe a number of times in recent months. The new powers will only apply to military sites, but could be extended to civilian locations such as airports. Healey is set to announce the introduction of a kinetic option, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, that would enable British troops or Ministry of Defence (MoD) police to shoot drones posing a threat to a military site in the UK.

John Healey, the British defense secretary, tours a new military drone production facility in Swindon, U.K., on Sept. 15. Healey is reportedly set to authorize new powers to shoot down drones amid a rise in incursions. British troops will be given new powers to shoot down drones threatening U.K. military bases, the Telegraph reported on Sunday, citing an upcoming announcement on Monday from John Healey, the British defense secretary. Healey is expected to unveil his vision on how to protect Britain's most critical military bases in response to a growing threat posed by Russia, the newspaper said. Although the new powers will initially apply only for military sites, the British government was not ruling out working to extend those powers to other important sites like airports, the Telegraph said, citing a source.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said a new anti-drone system should be fully operational by the end of 2027, as part of a drive to toughen defences against Russia and be fully prepared for possible conflict by 2030. Drones are already redefining warfare. Having drone defences is no longer optional for anyone, Kallas said, referring to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and fears that Moscow may attack the EU. The European Commission's defence roadmap also proposes strengthening the EU's eastern borders and building air and space shields. Several EU nations have faced Russian incursions into their airspace and US President Donald Trump has urged the bloc to do more to defend itself.

Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Why are Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine a'red line' for Russia? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? EU discusses'drone wall' to protect airspace from Russian violations The European Commission is in discussions to adopt a new counter-drone initiative to protect European Union airspace from Russian violations, as it seeks to strengthen border security with its own advanced drone technology after a string of drone incursions were reported in a host of EU and NATO member countries over the past month. The proposal, which was included in a defence policy "roadmap" presented on Thursday, will aim for the new anti-drone capabilities to reach initial capacity by the end of next year and become fully operational by the end of 2027, according to a draft of the document.

Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Why are Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine a'red line' for Russia? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? Lithuania, a small Baltic state bordering Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad, is adapting to new tensions between NATO and Moscow. A member of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union takes part in a military exercise in central Lithuania [Nils Adler/Al Jazeera] Two members of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union take part in a military exercise in central Lithuania [Nils Adler/Al Jazeera] On a nearby building is an illuminated decorative Z, a symbol used to show support for the Russian military's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Why are Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine a'red line' for Russia? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine on Saturday killed at least five people, while also cutting power to parts of the southern Odesa region, the AFP news agency reported, citing local officials. Two of the victims were killed in an attack on a church in Kostiantynivka in eastern Donetsk, AFP said.